17/07/2014
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Research has found that a daily tomato extract supplement, or ‘tomato pill’, improves blood vessel function in people with heart disease.
© Nik_Merkulov - Fotolia.com
A daily supplement of a compound found in tomatoes may improve the function of blood vessels in patients with heart disease, according to new research from the University of Cambridge.
Tomato-rich Mediterranean diet protects the heart
The incidence of cardiovascular disease varies worldwide, but is notably reduced in southern Europe, where a 'Mediterranean diet' consisting of a larger consumption of fruit, vegetables and olive oil is predominantly eaten.
Recent dietary studies suggest that this diet reduces the incidence of events related to the disease, including heart attack and stroke, in patients at high cardiovascular risk, or those who have previously had the disease.
Lycopene, found in tomatoes, is a powerful antioxidant
One component of the Mediterranean diet thought to play a role in reducing this risk is lycopene, a powerful antioxidant which is ten times more potent than vitamin E.
Lycopene is found in tomatoes and other fruits, and its potency appears to be enhanced when it is consumed pureed, in ketchup or in the presence of olive oil.
How does lycopene protect the heart?
While there is strong epidemiological evidence to support the role of lycopene in reducing cardiovascular risk, the mechanism by which it does so is unclear.
"There's a wealth of research that suggests that the Mediterranean diet -- which includes lycopene found in tomatoes and other fruit as a component -- is good for our cardiovascular health. But so far, it's been a mystery what the underlying mechanisms could be,” says Dr Joseph Cheriyan, consultant clinical pharmacologist & physician at Addenbrooke's Hospital and Associate Lecturer at the University of Cambridge.
Putting lycopene to the test
The researchers from the University of Cambridge and the Cambridge University Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust carried out a trial investigating the effects of lycopene a gold standard method of measuring the function of blood vessels called forearm blood flow, which is predictive of future cardiovascular risk.
Thirty-six cardiovascular disease patients and 36 healthy volunteers were given either Ateronon (an off-the-shelf supplement containing seven milligrams of lycopene) or a placebo treatment. As it was a double-blind trial, neither the study participants nor the researchers dispensing the pills were aware of which treatment was being provided.
The patients with cardiovascular disease were all on statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs). However, despite this, they still had a relatively impaired function of the endothelium - the inner lining of blood vessels - compared to healthy volunteers. This function is determined by the response of blood vessels in the forearm to a naturally occurring molecule called acetylcholine. Endothelial function predicts future events, so having a healthy endothelium is an important factor in preventing the evolution of heart disease.
The surprisingly good results of taking a 'tomato pill’
The researchers found that seven milligrams of oral lycopene supplementation improved and normalised endothelial function in the patients, but not in healthy volunteers.
Lycopene improved the widening of the blood vessels by over a half (53%) compared to baseline in those taking the pill, after correction for those who took the placebo; constriction of the blood vessels is one of the key factors that can lead to heart attack and stroke. However, the supplement had no effect on blood pressure, arterial stiffness or levels of lipids.
"We've shown quite clearly that lycopene improves the function of blood vessels in cardiovascular disease patients," adds Dr Cheriyan. "It reinforces the need for a healthy diet in people at risk from heart disease and stroke. A daily 'tomato pill' is not a substitute for other treatments, but may provide added benefits when taken alongside other medication. However, we cannot answer if this may reduce heart disease -- this would need much larger trials to investigate outcomes more carefully."
Source: University of Cambridge via ScienceDaily
